Question

In the middle of the twentieth century, major U.S. cities had multiple competing city bus companies. Today, there is usually only one and it runs as a subsidized, regulated monopoly. What do you suppose caused the change?

Short answer

The change from multiple competing city bus companies to a single, subsidized, and regulated monopoly was caused by several factors, including high operational costs, economies of scale, inefficient competition, and public subsidies and regulation. High costs made it challenging for smaller companies to keep up, while larger companies could operate more efficiently. Inefficient competition led to wasted resources on overlapping routes. Lastly, government intervention through subsidies and regulation ensured a more stable and reliable public transportation system, contributing to the establishment of a monopoly.

Step-by-step solution

Understand the concept of a monopoly

A monopoly is a market situation where there is only one seller or provider of a particular good or service. The monopolist has the market power to adjust prices and control the supply of the service.

Identify reasons for monopolies in general

Some industries are naturally inclined towards monopolies because of high barriers to entry, such as high fixed costs, economies of scale, or legal regulations. Once a firm dominates the market, it often becomes more efficient due to these factors, making it difficult for new competitors to enter the market.

Investigate the state of city bus companies in the mid-20th century

There were multiple competing city bus companies in major U.S. cities during this time period. Each company tried to outcompete the others by providing better service at lower prices.

Examine factors behind the disappearance of competition

Some key factors that led to the disappearance of competition among city bus companies include: 1. High operational costs and required infrastructure investments: Running and maintaining a bus fleet requires significant upfront costs and ongoing maintenance expenses. Smaller companies had a harder time keeping up with these expenses, leading to fewer players in the market. 2. Economies of scale: Larger bus companies were able to spread their costs over a more extensive network and customer base, making their service more cost-effective and enabling them to outcompete smaller rivals. 3. Inefficient competition: Multiple bus companies operating along the same routes can lead to an inefficient use of resources, as companies overcompensate on certain lines and undercompensate on others. 4. Public subsidies and regulation: As mentioned in the exercise, city bus services became subsidized and regulated by the government. This allowed for a more stable transportation service with regulated fares and routes, instead of an unpredictable, profit-driven system.

Understand the causes for the transition to a monopoly

The combination of these factors ultimately resulted in the transition from a market with multiple competing city bus companies to a single, government-subsidized and regulated monopoly. This change allowed for a more efficient use of resources and a more reliable public transportation system for citizens.